The part of Troy Barnes was originally written for a white guy. When you think of the former high school football star, you think 6-foot-2, white, meathead as the model for that kind of character. Since I'm not 6-foot-2 or white, I just thought about what I could bring to it.

— Donald Glover

Donald Glover

Donald Glover (full name Donald McKinley Glover, Jr.) is an Emmy winning actor, comedian, writer, singer, songwriter, rapper and director. He was born on September 25, 1983 at the Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His father is a postal worker and his mother runs a daycare center. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Dramatic Writing in 2006. Before being cast on "Community" he was best known for his work with the sketch comedy troupe "Derrick Comedy". He was a former writer on the Tina Fey sitcom “30 Rock" but left to pursue a career in stand up. Sometime later he was contacted by Dan Harmon to audition for the part of Troy Barnes, a role which he has played for four Seasons. He is also a rap artist who continues to perform under the stage name "Childish Gambino" and is signed to the label Glassnote Records. He also voices Marshall Lee on "Adventure Time". Glover officially left “Community” in Season Five. He currently writes, produces and occasionally directs the FX series “Atlanta” which he won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing. He also starred in the 2018 Star Wars franchise spin-off film "Solo: A Star Wars Story" as the character Lando Calrissian. In his personal life Glover and his partner Michelle had a child in 2016 named Legend. Two years later Glover had another son with Michelle in January 2018.